A growing malaise in our society

Don't tweet if you can't take the heat, Column, Nov. 23

Kudos to Rosie DiManno for her brilliant and refreshing column. She is absolutely right on target in identifying a growing malaise in our society.

Put simply, that malaise is the lack of social responsibility and personal accountability in everything we do, from using our so-called social networks (which are actually increasingly anti-social) to our behaviour behind the wheel of a car.

When I was growing up in the 1960s and 1970s, I remember hearing of a bright future, with a brave new world of global citizens in which all nations would foster peace and harmony. Dream on, right? Yes, that is a utopian view, that's true.

It is equally true, however, that not much seems to have changed in human nature over the past few millennia. Are we really more civilized than the Roman citizens of 2,000 years ago who enjoyed watching Christians torn asunder by lions in the arena?

Judging by some of the heartless comments made by people on our social networks, some of which have driven young people to suicide, one would think not. Let the games begin.